Keevatin

Keevatin is little more than a geographical expression for a part of the country lying north of the province of Manitoba. Its extent has been considerably curtailed of late years by the delimitation of the western and northern boundaries of Ontario and the eastern boundary of Manitoba, and its area is now computed at 282,000 sq. m. On the south the district is bounded by Manitoba from its north-east corner to the western shore of Lake Winnipeg. The western boundary is along the west shore of the lake to near Norway House, whence it goes in a northerly direction to the 55th degree of latitude, at the point where it intersects the Nelson River, and then passes west to the 100th degree of longitude, which it follows north to the limits of Canadian territory. On the east the boundary is a continuation of the eastern boundary of Manitoba until it reaches Hudson Bay, where it follows the coast-line to the northern limits of the Dominion. Keevatin is but little known. It is nominally administered by the lieutenant-governor of Manitoba, but is nearly uninhabited, excepting by Eskimos in the north. Norway House, an important station of the Hudson Bay Company, and one or two other posts belonging to that corporation, are the only settlements in the districts. The principal attraction is the game, large and small, with which it abounds. In some parts valuable minerals are believed to exist, but they have not been developed. The country is well watered and timbered in many places, but is not suitable for cultivation to any extent. It embraces the northern part of Lake Winnipeg, with its important fisheries, and includes the mouth of the Saskatchewan River, which is navigable, except for a short distance, for nearly 1000 miles. The Nelson River passes through the province, as well as the Churchill and numerous smaller streams; and the Chesterfield Inlet on the western side of Hudson Bay penetrates nearly to its western boundary. The projected Hudson Bay Railway is planned to pass through Kewatin. See HUDSON BAY.